Thread: Simple pen marking gauge

Might have been done before, but good idea anyway.

You need a manicure.

Joe

I agree about the pencil bit so I think your idea has some legs. Must have a bit of a play with it myself sometime.

Cheers

I don't have a pen in the workshop. Not that I know of anyway.

What I do have is a couple boxes of 2H pencils.

Throw that HB pencil in with the rest of the firewood fodder you keep playing with, and lash out for a few decent pencils with harder lead.

Or try a mechanical pencil. Just don't like the idea of ink on wood, unless you like to have permanent marks on the wood. I guess it's ok if yer painting stuff like house trim though...

(Other than using a #$%$& pen on wood, I like this one. )

Hi Jake,

There was a similar thread on the UK Workshop forum recently. In case you didn't see it, here it is http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/v...ic.php?t=12666 Seems that a few people are finding, like you, that a ball pen is sometimes better than a pencil - particularly when the eyesight starts to go

Cheers

Paul

thanks Bob...and yes, thanks Joe, I need a manicure (amongst other things )

I hadn't seen that thread Paul. I suppose when you make the whole thing from fresh you can dimention the gauges arm thick enough to grip a normal biro better.

Might have to get my eyes checked ! ......also got a dungeon of a shed. I don't like the way light plays around.....just seems to make it worse the brighter it is outside........might try and find the money to get some transperent plastic stuff to replace a few sheets of corrigated iron on the roof to bring some more natural light in.

Thanks Schtoo........I've tried 2H pencils plenty....thinking they'd be good because they wear slow......but then I feel they leave a mark thats too hard to see as well.......also considered trying those pacer mechanical pens.....but the leads too brittle I think.....and the steel tips wobble about.

And they all have tapering tips that are hard to grip in old marking gauges......

But, I know what you mean by pen on wood.....but generally I've never had any problem with it......final finishing takes it off uno......What I'd like to know though is.....can you get these refill pens in lighter colours ?,,,,,, like white, instead of just black or blue.....be great on the darker timbers.

Second the manicure / pedicure. Maybe we can all chip in and buy you a voucher for your birthday.

GW

Originally Posted by Green Woodchips

Second the manicure / pedicure. Maybe we can all chip in and buy you a voucher for your birthday.

GW

yes, I can see that happening...... sitting proudly reading a copy of womans weekly, gossiping with the girls about the local tramp sleeping with whoever....whilst getting me nails done.

if you wanna buy me something though....... I wouldn't mind a stanley 112

Just a slight 'improver' on your jig, instead of a pencil or propelling pencil (which always break for me) try some draftsman lead, it was in a recent Woodsmith used in a marking gauge instead of/as well as a blade for marking.
I believe it is a bit harder than a pencil but not sure what it is graded as.

Hi Jake,

They're known as a pencil gauge. They work well, and are useful because they don't scratch into the timber -> about the easiest way to mark out a 15 x 8 splay or similar, as a pin would leave a scratch in the surface once you've finished, but the pencil's simply sanded off.

As well, if you cut a 40mm dowel lengthways in half and glue both halves to the face of the marking gauge stock, parallel to the axis of the pencil/pin/knife and one either side of the beam, then you can also use it to mark curved surfaces.

Cheers,

eddie

Iain, do you mean that stuff about 2mm diameter? Back in my pre-CAD days, it came in about 12 different grades, maybe still does. Hardest just a little softer than a bar of aluminum (aluminium to you ). For precision marking, sharpen with a single bevel, and set the sharp edge along the marking line. Softer grades do wear rapidly, however.

Joe

I shall have a look at the mag later and see what it is, just recall seeing it recently and thought about making a marking gauge.

Originally Posted by apricotripper

What I'd like to know though is.....can you get these refill pens in lighter colours ?,,,,,, like white, instead of just black or blue.....be great on the darker timbers.

Hi Jake,

I think conventional ball pen refills are usually available only in black, blue or red. You can get pens that write in silver and gold (like posh people use on birthday and Christmas cards :eek: ) but they are usually that gel stuff. For really dark wood why not use a marking gauge then scribble over the groove with a white chinagraph pencil so that the white is left in the groove. I've found that helps

Cheers

Paul

Ian..... thanks for the idea.....but I don't think one can ever get away from the pencil wear/hard to see problem that grafite pencils seem to have for me.......I'm pretty sure of I know those clutch drafting pencils....I had one until somebody stole it.

Hi Eddie..... I have been using a pencil guage for a while .....spose I just wanted an improvement. How you going ?

Thanks Paul.....I was also hoping a fluresent pink or something like was available, to match me panties ....no. I'll just rub white pencil into a knife scribed line like you said.

I ripped the pencil tip of the old one yesterday, and made it to hold another refill pen.......found it easy to just freehand it into a small sanding drum. nothing flash....but quick.

All going well, JD -> flatter than that proverbial lizard at the moment.

2B's about the standard pencil in a workshop.

Trust that all else is well.

Cheers,

eddie